Web Essay: Celebrate free speech this week

5:31 PM,
Oct. 23, 2013

Written by

CAROLINE LITTLE
Guest Essayist

After all, according to the annual State of the First Amendment survey, it is by far America's favorite freedom and our most important right. In that survey, 47 percent voted for free speech, compared to 10 percent for the next closest right, freedom of religion. It is only appropriate that we dedicate a week to celebrating free speech.

The freedom to express ourselves and speak our minds is an inextricable part of a strong democracy. When you have a government directed by its citizens, it is critical that those citizens be engaged and ...